Brake drum



' brake drums for automobile wheels.

1 5 the'ope iiingg Patented July 8, 1930 UNITED srA'rss PATENT OFFICE JACOB L. PRICE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO BENDIX BRAKE GOMPANY, OI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS BRAKE nnun Application filed February 15, 1928. Serial 110. 58,191.

This invention relates to brake drums, and

- is illustrated as embodied in two different All ob ject of the invention is to form the drum with a narrow arcuate slot, or other opening, permitting the use. in adjusting the brakes of a 'feeler placed fiat against the inside of the braking flange. Preferably the outer edge of the opening is in alinement with the inner surface of the brakingv flange, or at least is not inside of that surface. The opening may be covered, if desired, and in one arrange mentfiniwhiehthe drum isused aspart of the whefiftheftfiiter whel part is usedto Y cover and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of two illustrative embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a radial section through one-half of the brake, and through part' of the wheel,

in an arrangement in .which the drum and wheel are separately secured to the hub;

Fig. 2 is a partial. radial section, corresponding in a'general way to Fig. 1, showing an arrangement in which the drumforms part ofthewheel; and 1 Fig. 3 is a. partial side elevation of the so drum of- Fig. 2, partlybroken away to show the brake shoes within it. i

The arrangement in Fig. 1 includes a drum 10 and a disk wheel-12, separately secured to a hub 14. Brake shoes 16 are'arranged inside drum 10 any desired manner.

According to the present invention, the head of drum 10, just inside the cylindrical braking flange, is formed with an opening, such as a narrow arcuate slot 18, for a feeler F, which can be inserted from the out- 'side after wheel 12 is removed, to serve as a gage against which shoes 16 are adjusted when in released or idle position, to predetermine the clearance of the shoes. Preferably The above the inside of the braking flange, but at least it should not be inside the inner surface of that flange, as it is desired that feeler F lie flat against the flange. If desired, a suitable cover may be fastened over slot 18.

In Figs. 2 and 3 is shown an arrangement in which the drum 20 serves as the major part of the wheel, this being especially desirable Y with balloon tires. The head of the drum is 'rabbeted at 22 to form a recess receiving.

the edge'of an outer rim-carrying wheel part 24 demountably secured by bolts or other fastenings-sgfigp s sin g through openings 28.

Drum 20 may-have a hub drawn integrally I at its center," orit may be secured'to a separate hub 14: by fastenings passing through openings 30. Wheel part 2 lthus has the additiona function in this arrangement of serving as a cover for the opening or slot 18.

While two illustrative embodiments have been described in detail, it is not my-inten tion to limit the scope of the invention to those particular embodiments, or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claim.

' -I claim: i

A brake construction comprising a brake drum having a head portion and a brakin flange, a braln'ng element positioned in'said drum and adapted to engage with the interior of said flange, said drum having a slot formed in the head at a point where the head and flange of the drum meet, said slot being so arranged that a feeler may be inserted to determine the clearance-between the interior of the braking flange and the braking element; an annular wheel member detach;

ably secured to the drum in such position as to cover said slot whenthe wheel member is in place. .7

the outer edge of slot 18 is in alinement with 

